Lewis Leads Huskers on Day One of Graduate Classic

LINCOLN, Neb. - The Nebraska track and field team opened the 2019 season with day one of the Graduate Classic in front of a crowd of 1,864 at the Bob Devaney Sports Center Indoor Track on Friday night.

Three Huskers grabbed individual event titles on the first day of the season. Raynesha Lewis was the top performer with a winning long jump mark of 20-3 1/2 (6.18m), a new personal best. Her mark ranks sixth in the nation this season so far, and she successfully defended her Graduate Classic long jump title from last year. Shylia Riley was the runner-up with a distance of 19-4 1/4 (5.90m).

Erika Freyhof set a personal best of 9:49.39 to win the 3,000 meters. Elsa Forsberg was the champion of the 1,000 meters with a time of 2:55.97, while Jessi Smith (2:56.32) and Mia Morck (2:57.58) helped the Huskers sweep the top three spots in the race.

Cale Wagner took second in the men's long jump with a jump of 23-3 1/2 (7.10m). Bailey Timmons took second in the men's 3,000 meters with a new best time of 8:25.64. Judi Jones finished third in the mile with a personal record of 5:02.94.

Junior transfer Isaiah Hutchinson posted a time of 6.80 in 60-meters qualifying, the fastest qualifying time and the fastest 60-meters time by a Husker since 2016. Freshman Jordane Jackson ran 6.89 to take second, while Alex Nelson (6.93) and Noah Lukz (6.99) also cracked 7.00 seconds. Freshman Whitney Bridges led the women's 60-meters qualifying with a time of 7.76.

In the 60-meter hurdles qualifiers, Zach Podraza (8.57) ran the second-fastest time and freshman Johanna Ilves also ran the second-fastest time in the women's race.